Leveling device

ABSTRACT

A device for leveling an upright body, such as a refrigerator, upon a bottom supporting surface, such as the floor of a mobile vehicle, including a bearing member on the bottom supporting surface to support the bottom end of the body for universal rocking movement about a vertical axis, and a spherical knob fixed to the top end of the body and received in a laterally slidable seat resting upon the top surface of an opening in a fixed top support structure.

llmted States Patent 11 1 1111 3,712,570

Stone et al. 1 Jan. 23, 1973 s41 LEVELING DEVICE 3,087,l86 4/1963 Budd... ..24s 17e x 3,396,927 8/1968 Masters "248/1882 [76] Invenmrs' g tg l igz f i sg gggggf 3,491,977 1 1970 lller ..248/358R g g;? i Kipling Dnve Primary ExaminerWilliam l-l. Schultz 0 an Attorney--Hafiington A. Lackey [22] Filed: Nov. 19, 1971 [2]] Appl. No.: 200,531 [57] ABSTRACT A device for leveling an upright body, such as a refrigerator, upon a bottom supporting surface, such 138 as the floor of a mobile vehicle, including a bearing member on the bottom supporting Surface to Support [58] held of 1 the bottom end of the body for universal rocking movement about a vertical axis, and a spherical knob fixed to the top end of the body and received in a [56] Rderences Cited laterally slidable seat resting upon the top surface of UNITED STATES PATENTS an opening in a fixed top support structure.

1/1892 Sperry ..248/l28 8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDmzs I973 3.712.570

INVENTORS CHARLIE J. STONE JOSEPH s. STONE ATTORNEY 1 LEVELING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a leveling device, and more particularly to a device for leveling a body, such as a refrigerator, in a mobile vehicle, such as a motor home, trailer or camper.

In order for most refrigerators to function properly, they must be level, that is supported in a truly upright fixed position relative to the supporting surface, such as the floor. The leveling of a refrigerator presents no problem in most dwellings, since the floor is always fixed, and once the refrigerator is installed and properly leveled, it remains level indefinitely. However, a refrigerator in a mobile type of dwelling, such as a motor home, trailer or camper, must be leveled every time the mobile dwelling is situated in a dwelling site. However, since the refrigerator is originally installed in a fixed position, usually within a closely confined cabinet, the only way to level the refrigerator is to level the floor of the mobile dwelling every time the mobile dwelling is moved to a different site.

Two US. Pat. Nos. 3,396,927 of Masters, and 3,491,977 of Iller, attempt to solve the problem of leveling refrigerators in mobile dwellings, by mounting the refrigerator to tilt relative to the floor. Masters discloses such a leveling device including only a specific type of universal bearing supporting the bottom end of I the refrigerator, while lller discloses a leveling mount including top and bottom supporting mechanisms, which permit limited tilting of the refrigerator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a device for leveling a body, such as a refrigerator relative to the bottom supporting surface, such as the floor of a dwelling vehicle.

This leveling device includes a universal bottom bearing for supporting the bottom end of the refrigerator to rock or tilt in any direction relative to a vertical axis, and preferably the upright central axis of the refrigerator. v

Fixed to the top end of the refrigerator is an upright stem, the top end of which threadedly receives a spherical knob adapted to be vertically adjusted to fit in the seat of a seat member laterally slidable upon a top support structure having a large opening therethrough for receiving the stem. By vertically adjusting the knob upon a threaded stem, the knob may be movedaway from its seat to permit lateral adjustment of the seat member in any direction until the stem knob and seat locate the refrigerator in a truly vertical position upon itsbottom bearing member. When leveled, the knob is threaded downward upon the stem and against the seat, to compress the seat member upon the top surface of the top support structure, and thereby hold the refrigerator in its leveled position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 3 is -a view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1, with portions broken away, disclosing the refrigerator in two adjusted positions in a vertical plane at right angles to the plane of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in more detail, a refrigerator 10 is disclosed supported by the leveling device, made in accordance with this invention, in a cabinet 11 fixed to the interior wall 12 of a camper vehicle. The particularly disclosed cabinet 11 includes a pair of opposed downwardly converging side walls 13 and 14, fixed at their bottom ends to the floor 15 of the camper vehicle. The upper ends of the walls 13 and 14 are secured to the top wall 16. The top wall 16 is spaced above the floor 15, a distance slightly greater than the height of the refrigerator 10. Thus, the cabinet 11 completely encloses the refrigerator 10, except for the front portion, which is completely open to render the front door of the refrigerator l0 accessible to the occupant of the camper vehicle.

The leveling device made in accordance with this invention includes a lower member 19 and an upper member 20.

The lower member 19 includes a bearing member or plate 21 fixed in substantially the center of the cabinet 11 upon the floor 15, by any convenient means, and having in its center an upwardly projecting protuberance 22, preferably rounded. The lower member 19 further includes a bearing seat member or plate 23, shown in the drawings substantially'in the shape of a tray having an upturned peripheral lip 24 receiving the bottom end of the refrigerator 10. In substantially the center of the bearing seat plate 23 is a rounded, or hemispherical, seat recess 25 adapted to receive the bearing protuberance 22. If the bearing seat member 23 is in the form of a plate or tray, its bottom surface diverges upward from the seat 25 so that the seat member 23 supporting the refrigerator 10 is free to rock or tilt about the bearing protuberance 22 universally about a vertical axis, which preferably coincides with the upright central axis of the refrigerator 10, to concentrate theweight of the refrigerator 10 upon the bearing protuberance 22. In other words, the cooperating bearing protuberance 22 and bearing seat 25 provide a universal bearing for supporting a refrigerator 10.

The upper member 20 includes a circular vertical opening 27 extending entirely through the top wall, or counter top, 16, and substantially centrally located with respect to the refrigerator 10.

The upper member 20 further includes an upright stem 28 fixed centrally upon the top of the refrigerator l0, and having at least its upper portion threaded at 29, and long enough to project upward entirely through and above the circular opening 27. Threadedly secured to the top threaded portion 29 is a substantially spherical knob 30 having a vertical, internally threaded, hole 31 for threadedly receiving the threaded end portion 29 of the stem 28.

Resting upon the top surface of the top wall 16, and spanning the central vertical opening 27 is an adjustment seat member or plate 32. Formed centrally of the seat plate 32 and directed upward is a substantially semi-spherical seat 33, shaped to receive the knob 30.

A vertical hole 34 having a substantially smaller diameter than the opening 27, but just large enough to receive therethrough the stem 28, extends through the center of the seat 33.

In the assembly or installation of the refrigerator within the cabinet 11, the bearing plate 21 is first fixed to the floor 15. The bottom of the refrigerator 10 is inserted within the diverging plate or tray 33 so that the lips 24 completely surround the bottom periphery of the refrigerator 10. The refrigerator 10 is then inserted into the cabinet 11 between the walls 13 and 14 until the bearing seat recess 25 registers with and rests upon the upward projecting bearing protuberance 22. As best disclosed in FIG. 2, the upward diverging side walls 13 and 14 have a lower cross-sectional dimension only slightly greater than that of the bearing seat member 23. Thus, the upward divergence of the walls 13 and 14 is necessary to permit the refrigerator 10 to tilt in a vertical plane left-to-right about the pivot bearing 22 to positions such as that disclosed in phantom in FIG. 2.

After the refrigerator 10 is seated upon its bearing protuberance 22, the stem 28 is fixed to the top of the refrigerator so that it projects upward through the central opening 27. At this time, the knob 30 is disconnected from the threaded stem portion 29. The adjustable seat plate 32 is then fitted over the stem 28 until it rests upon the top surface of the top wall 16 spanning the central opening 27 In this position, the stem 28 extends through the seat hole 34. The knob 30 is then threadedly attached to the upper threaded stem portion 29, and, while loosened relative to the seat 33, is used as a handle to laterally move the knob 30, stem 28, refrigerator 10 and seat plate 32 until the refrigerator 10 is level to occupy a true vertical position. When this true vertical position is attained, the knob 30 is threaded downward to tighten against the seat 33 and force the seat plate 32 in frictional engagement with the top surface of the top wall 16, to hold the refrigerator 10 in its leveled position.

If the camper floor is tilted so that the refrigerator 10 is no longer level, such as when the camper is moved to a different site, then re-leveling is easily accomplished by adjustment of the upper leveling member 20.

The occupant of the camper merely loosens the knob 30 by threading it upward about the stem portion 29 to disengage the seat 33 and relieve the pressure of the seat plate 32 upon the top wall 16. The knob 30 is grasped and moved to any lateral position, to correspondingly move the stem 28, refrigerator l0, and seat plate 32, until the refrigerator 10 is again in a level position, whereupon the knob 30 is again tightened to lock the seat plate 32 against the top wall 16 and hold the refrigerator l0 stationary.

The phantom positions of FIGS. 2 and 3 show two different adjusted tilted positions of the refrigerator 10 in two vertical planes at right angles to each other.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for leveling an upright body having a top end and a bottom end upon a bottom support surface, comprising:

a. means supporting said bottom end upon said bottom support surface for universal rocking movement of said body about a vertical axis through said body, a top support structure spaced above said bottom support surface a distance greater than the height of said body,

. said top support structure having a vertical opening therethrough directly above said top end when said bottom end is supported by said supporting means,

. an upper seat member having a spherical seat and a vertical hole through said seat substantially smaller than said vertical opening,

said seat member being adapted to rest against, and be moved laterally relative to, said top support structure,

an upright stem fixed to said top end and extending through said opening and said hole, and

a substantially spherical knob attached to said stem, and being adapted to engage said seat.

2. The invention according to claim 1 further comprising means for positioning said knob relative to said stem to permit lateral adjustment of said seat member relative to said top support structure.

3. The invention according to claim 2 in which said positioning means comprises said stem being threaded and said knob having an internally threaded hole for threadedly receiving said stem.

4. The invention according to claim 1 in which said top support structure has a top surface, said seat member being adapted to rest upon said top surface, and said knob being above said seat.

5. The invention according to claim 1 in which said seat member comprises a plate having a greater crosssectional dimension than said opening.

6. The invention according to claim 1 in which said vertical opening is circular.

7. The invention according to claim 1 in which said vertical axis is substantially in the center of said body.

8. The invention according to claim 1 in which said supporting means comprises a bearing member fixed to said bottom support surface and having an upward projecting protuberance, and a bearing seat member fixed to said bottom end having a substantially hemispherical bearing recess adapted to receive said protuberance. 

1. A device for leveling an upright body having a top end and a bottom end upon a bottom support surface, comprising: a. means supporting said bottom end upon said bottom support surface for universal rocking movement of said body about a vertical axis through said body, b. a top support structure spaced above said bottom support surface a distance greater than the height of said body, c. said top support structure having a vertical opening therethrough directly above said top end when said bottom end is supported by said supporting means, d. an upper seat member having a spherical seat and a vertical hole through said seat substantially smaller than said vertical opening, e. said seat member being adapted to rest against, and be moved laterally relative to, said top support structure, f. an upright stem fixed to said top end and extending through said opening and said hole, and g. a substantially spherical knob attached to said stem, and being adapted to engage said seat.
 2. The invention according to claim 1 further comprising means for positioning said knob relative to said stem to permit lateral adjustment of said seat member relative to said top support structure.
 3. The invention according to claim 2 in which said positioning means comprises said stem being threaded and said knob having an internally threaded hole for threadedly receiving said stem.
 4. The invention according to claim 1 in which said top support structure has a top surface, said seat member being adapted to rest upOn said top surface, and said knob being above said seat.
 5. The invention according to claim 1 in which said seat member comprises a plate having a greater cross-sectional dimension than said opening.
 6. The invention according to claim 1 in which said vertical opening is circular.
 7. The invention according to claim 1 in which said vertical axis is substantially in the center of said body.
 8. The invention according to claim 1 in which said supporting means comprises a bearing member fixed to said bottom support surface and having an upward projecting protuberance, and a bearing seat member fixed to said bottom end having a substantially hemispherical bearing recess adapted to receive said protuberance. 